Flying-machine.



E. R. DAVIS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED rm. 10,1914.

1,1 13,881. Patented. 0@1.13,1914.

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E. R. DAVIS.

FLYING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED rm. 10,1914.

1,1 13,881 Patented 0ct.13,1914.

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1,113,881. Patented 0qt.13,1914

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I .EARL R. DAVIS, 0F CINCINNATI, QHIO FLYING-MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Oct. '13, 1914.

Application filed February 10, 1914. Serial No. 817,885.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, EARL R. DAVIS, a citizen of the United States, residing at Cincinnati, in the county of Hamilton and State of Ohio, have invented new and useful Improvementsin Flying-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to flying machines of the aerodynamical type, and the principal object of the invention is to provide a flying machine which, without the use of balancing mechanism auxiliary 'to its normal working parts, will under all normal conditions, through its own inherent balancing properties, maintain its equilibrium and, in the event that it should turn over in any direction under any unusual disturbingforce, as when suddenly encountering a gale,

will right itself and assume a safe gliding angle for sustentation or to insure I safe descent to the ground.

A further object of the invention is to provide a machine in which the construction, relative proportions and relative arrangement of the parts, load weight and balancing factors are such as to secure the aforesaid actions, as well as to adapt the machine for flying at any proper angle. of incidence without disturbing its balancing properties and whereby any tendency of the machine to lag or drop back to an un balanced position Wlll be prevented and the machine caused to automatically assume a gliding attitude.

, A still further object of the invention is to provide a machine having the defined characteristics and which at the same time possesses speed and lifting power.

T e invention consists of the features of} con truction, combination and arrangement of parts herein fully described and claimed reference bei or had to the accompanying drawings in w ich:-

Figure 1 is a side. elevation of a flying; machine embodying my invention 1n a fly-.

ing attitude. Fig.2 is a similar view of the machine in a gliding of volplaning at titude. Fig. 3 is a similar view of the machine in its standing attitude. Fig. 4 is a front elevation of. the-machne. Fig. 5 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 6 isa vertical transverse 'sectiononline 66 of Fig. 5.

. ciency will be obtained.

' a The machine is provided with a support- In the practical embodiment of my inven: tlon I provide a nacelle body 1, preferably of streamline or pisciform contour, and constituting a car or body portion proper. 2 and an empennage or tail portion 3. The car or body portion 2 is provided with the usual cock pit 4, and serves as an inclosure for the aviators seat 5, the motor 6 and the elements of the steering or controlling gear. The empennag'e or tail portion 3 carries at its stern end a fixed stability tail 7 a horizontalrudder or verticall adjustable tail piece '8, and a laterally swinging vertical rudder 9, which rudders are adapted to e connected with and adjusted by any suitable or preferred type of controlling device (not shown) arranged, as stated, Within the car or body 2 so as'to be within convenient reach of the aviator. The rudder 8 is so arranged that when disposed in. a normal or neutral position it extends on a line coinciding with the longitudinal center of the longitudinal alinement 'With the rudder 8' when the latter is disposed in a neutral position, whereby the center of thrust of the propeller will be delivered in a'line coinciding substantially with the longitudinal center of the machine when in a flying at titude, so that maximum propelling efliin surface com risin a air of laterall extending wings 12 which project equidistantly beyond opposite sides .of the bod 2.- These wings have any suitable fore-an aft curvature or inclination, and are preferably of rectangular or square form,: in

order to securecompactness of structure,

minimize danger from side gusts, to permit of stronger bracing, and to obtain increased stability, on account of less side leveragev than in machines of ordinary construction.

The wings are at a dihedral angle, to secure inherent lateral stability, and are rigidly; fastened at their inner ends to the sides of 'theorbody ,2 adjacent to the upper surface thereof, or above the partof the car or body carrying the entire load weight,

by which the point of suspension of the machine when flying is placed entirely above the load :weight, which gives an extremely low center of gravity. The car or body, acting in conjunction with the Weight of the load carried therein, thereby serves as a pendulum operating by gravity to maintain longitudinal stability, and coacting with the dihedral wings to maintain lateral stability. When the machine is in flight, and perfectly balanced, the centers of gravity and pressure coincide at the point upon the supporting surface along the line 6-6 shown in Fig. 16, and when the machine is so balanc'cd the tail portion 3 carries no Weight and the plane 8 acts solely as an elevating rudder. The car or body 1 carries suitable launching and alighting gear 13, which may include cushioning wheels, while the tail '3 is provided with :1 depending cushion-ing wheel or fender 14 to support the tail when the machine is in standing attitude clear of the ground, as well as'to' protect the tail and rudders from injury in the launching and landing actions.

It will be observed from the foregoing description that by constructing and arrang ing the partsof the machine as above described, automatic stability, both longitudinally'and laterally, is in them'arihine without the use of auxiliary alancing appliances of any character, and

steerlng the machine that in turning or laterally'the dihedral angle of the wings effects a sufiicient temporary lateral tilting h of the machincout of a balanced position to properly bankthemachinef It will also be observed that the wings are set high upon the body for a proper underhang of the load weight below the point of suspension, and that the propeller is so arranged that its lifting thrust will be sufficient when the machine is in a flying or climbing attitude, to raise the forward end of the body so that the center ofweight will bethrust slightly forward of-a vertical line intersecting the point of suspension, whereby in the event ofv the stoppage of the motor the load weight acting as a pendulu n'iiwill tilt the forward end of thebody downward,"causing the machine tonutomatically assume a correct glld ing attitude jfo i .gravital'sustentation to set the machine incidentally for" a safe descent an ms: 1 5

Owingtothe fact that the machine is perfectly balanced ,Lalon'g the suspension line when 'itii s' in normal flying in su eh attitud e "of the machine the movable tail pira es relieved of the worltof sustainingjfthe iv'ight of the; tail. it 'isevidcnt that thesaid adjustable tail piececorhelevating plane 8 may beset orv adjusted'to prime the machine toflfiyat any'propeiflai'iglegof incidencej without the necessity of'changing;

4 tam," a H when encountering a sudden obtainable inherently pisciform the rear edge of ,so that the machine is inilight will be wholly above attitude, [and the longitudinal center line of the car, a

the position of the supporting surface, the resistance of the load weight when the machine is traveling at an abnormal angle of incidence being balanced by the increased pressure of the air upon the tail plane, by which longitudinal balance is preserved. If, at any time when the machine is in flight, the motor should suddenly stop the tendency of the body to drop slightly and to tilt forward to a balancing degree, in the manner heretofore described, obviates anyliability of the machine dropping back or losing its longitudinal balance in a rearward direction, absolute safety is secured by the movement of the machine to a correct gliding position owing to the fact that the machine is inherently balanced against loss of stability laterally or longitudinally, it will be apparent that if under abnormal conditions, as

gale, the machine should be blown over in any direction, it will within a minimum falling space right itself descent.

I From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the drawings, the construction and mode of operation of my improved flying machine will be readily understood, and it will be seen that by a novel construction apd arrangement of the usual parts a machine having inherent stability to an exceptional degree is produced without employing auxiliary stabilizing devices of any kind or character. Also it will be seen that t e construction described provides a strong and durable machine which may be designed for speed or weight carrying, without sacrificing the principles of the invention. I claim A flying machine comprising a nacelle of contour, said nacelle comprising a forward body portion or car and a rearwardly extendiug tail, -a fixed tail plane at the rear of the tail of the body, a vertical rudderin proximity thereto, an elevating tail plane pivoted for vertical movement at the fixed tail plane, said fixed tail plane being arranged in the line of the longitudinal center of the body and the movable tail plane having a neutral position coinciding with said line and being adjustable above and below the same, di-

h'edral Wingsprojecting laterally from the car and at a pointadjaccnt the top thereof point of suspensionuvhen the motor. and means arranged within the bottom of the ear to carry and arrange the load v-eight below the horizontal longitudinalcenter of the car, a propeller shaft driven by the motor and arranged on a line coinciding with the horizontal longitudinal center of-the car between thepoint of suspension and assume a gliding attitude for safe and load Weight, i propelleioperated by In testimony whereof I affix my sigh'atilhe said shaft and iii-ranged. so that the lifting in presence of two Witnesses.

the machine is in flight.

pbrtidii' of its thrust wi11'e1evate the for- 1 i ward end of the body to a' degree to throw E 5 the en'ter of weight slightly forward of the VVi'tnesse'q: i

PHIL IXYIEHBOISHLJ vertical line cr' the point of suspenuion' when WM. 'MCNALLY. 

